SSU secures money for Green Music Center chairs

Sonoma State University announced it has secured funding to buy 1,400 chairs for the Green Music Center and it is now seeking bids from suppliers.

SSU President Ruben Armi?na told donors Friday night that the university had passed a major hurdle in its campaign to build the music complex. The chairs are expected to take 20 months to complete.

"The chairs will be installed between now and fall of 2011, Armi?na said. "But there's still work to be done. We still need $6.75 million to finish the lobby and the bathrooms."

The remarks were made at an open dress rehearsal Friday night at the Green Music Center, where the Santa Rosa Symphony performed for a select group of 300 donors and supporters.

Although small chamber groups have performed for donors, the event marked the first time the full orchestra had a chance to test-drive the hall under Music Director Bruno Ferrandis.

Among the supporters attending the dress rehearsal were Don and Maureen Green, who launched the fund-raising campaign for the music complex in 1997 with a $10 million contribution.